Lost Soul ¦ Mazikeen x Ella

Chapter 2: The Night is Long

Long after Chloe fell asleep, snoring through the credits of the second film, Ella decided she had better head home and Mazikeen sets to take a cab with her.

Truthfully, Maze wanted nothing more than to leave even seconds into the first film. There was nothing that interested her about anything she saw on the screen. There were plenty of fight scenes but Maze had to roll her eyes at every single movement. It looked as fake as it was. She wasn't enjoying even one bit of it. And there wasn't enough cursing. Not enough gore. Not enough torture.

Yet, she stayed. She stayed for the fascination in Ella's eyes as she watched the screen. She couldn't relate, couldn't even understand in the slightest bit. But those forever sparkles of happiness that Ella shows made sitting through it all worth it. 

The cab drops them off in front of Ella's place. When the driver asks for a bigger tip, Mazikeen's gaze tells him to shut up or else. He gulps and quickly, although not very enthusiastically, wishes them a good night before he drives off. 

A cool summer breeze can be felt and Ella shivers as they stand on the sidewalk. 'Sure is colder than the weather forecast had predicted,' she says, rubbing her hands over her arms to keep warm. 

Within seconds, Mazikeen is taking off her leather jacket. 'Here.' 

'Maze ... That is so sweet of you but I live right there.' She points to the building behind them. Mazikeen doesn't seem to care and hands her the jacket anyway, if only for the gesture behind it. If only for a chance to see her again. Ella tilts her head slightly as she thanks her friend. 

She puts on the jacket. It sits tightly around her arms but it fits. 'It looks good,' Maze says. It looks good on you. You look good. She means more than what she says but Ella doesn't know that. 

Ella puts her hand on Mazikeen's arm as she mouths another Thank you. 'You know, you might appear really scary but you're sweet, Maze. Really sweet.' This is the second time someone said something like that to her and for a second, she even believes it. But she's soulless. And cold, all thanks to Lilith. 'Thank you for tonight. I think we all needed it.' 

And there's that smile again, leaving a nagging feeling in her chest.

And that hug, though this time less comforting. It's a hug that feels like goodbye. 

Ella turns around to walk home and Mazikeen hesitates. She doesn't know what to do about the beam of light walking away from her. What can she do, really? She, the one without a soul. This isn't love, no matter what she tells herself. This is a distraction, a good-looking one that has messed with her head all evening, but just a distraction.

She's well aware of the pointlessness of it all but still, she yells: 'Are you okay?' A very simple question but to Mazikeen, that's not all; it's proof that she cares. That something inside of her is changing. One way or another.

Yet again, Ella turns around with the happiness on her face which can be read from anywhere. 'I will be. It was just another guy who was bad for me. Or well, this time he was bad for anyone living.' She sighs. 'Thanks, Maze. I'll see you around.' 

Maze is left behind with more question marks than ever burned into her mind.

It's past five in the morning when Linda comes strolling down the stairs, candleholder ready to attack whoever, or whatever, was roaming around her house. The television is playing and the occasional laughter could be heard from upstairs. She didn't want to wake Amenadiel, who had fallen asleep in Charlie's room. She could do this on her own. No one entered her house without her permission.

As she looks over to where the television was making noise, she's greeted by 'Hey, Linda,' which nearly makes her trip.

'Maze?' She adjusts her glasses. 'Maze, what are you doing here?' 

'Waiting for you to wake up!' She takes a handful of popcorn and stuffs it into her mouth. 

Linda gestures to Mazikeen, to the television, to the clock on the wall, to herself, and then just sighs and walks over to her. 'You can't just walk into my house like that!' Her voice is calm but the leftovers of panic can still be heard. 'I'm pretty sure I already told you that.'

'But Linda, this is an emergency.' Another handful of popcorn. 'I need your advice.'

'Advice isn't a real emergency. When did you even make- Nevermind.' She sits down next to Mazikeen, crossing her legs, and wraps a blanket around her. The least she can do is get comfortable as she starts a free therapy session at 5 AM. 'Okay, what can I do for you?'

Mazikeen wrinkles her nose, thoughts racing through her mind. She had come this far but was she actually ready to get vulnerable? Again? But Linda's her friend, best friend, and if she can't talk to her; how will she ever come to terms with how she's feeling? 

And how she's feeling, oh, that's a whole mess! And so she speaks: 'There's something inside of me, Linda. It feels like a gaping hole, tugging at my every being. And I can't explain it and it's killing me. It's messing with my head and the last time I felt this way was with-' But she doesn't finish that.

Eve. 

For a slight moment, she recalls the tender touch of Eve's lips on her cheek. The goodbye that tore her to pieces though it's only visible deep inside of her. 

'Maze?' Linda's hand is on Maze's but the demon doesn't snap out of her thoughts all that fast. Once she retracts her hand, she grazes her own cheek and this time doesn't feel Eve's kiss but a lukewarm tear dripping down. 

Linda readjusts her glasses and looks at Maze with a stern but compassionate look. 'I think what you're feeling, what you're going through, is called heartbreak.' 

A light sparked in Mazikeen's chest, this time one of resentment. 'Heartbreak? That would imply I have a heart. That I can love. I am soulless, Linda. I cannot love. I didn't love Eve, and I don't love Ella!' Near the end she started screaming, anger and despair flowing out of her. It disgusts her, feeling like those weak little mortals. But she knew there wasn't another explanation for all of this. Except ... 'That's it! I- I most likely caught some weird disease that made me all soft. That's it, Linda!' She pronounces disease as if falling in love and having feelings is the Plague. Maze would struggle a lot less falling in love with the Black Death than a mortal. A person. Disease over love. Torture over feelings. 

A sigh, another look of compassion, and Mazikeen is nearly regretting asking her friend for help. But Linda knows how to stick through. She's Lucifer's therapist after all. 'I believe that to cure your so-called disease, you have to act on it. Give rise to those feelings blooming inside of you. Ask out the person your heart aches for, experience what we call "love" but most importantly, be honest. Be. Honest.'

There's a long, thoughtful stare followed with a slight nod of agreement and for a second, Linda is surprised. Surprised she actually got through to Maze. 

'You really think this will work?' 

Linda doesn't think twice but nods, a smile plastered on her face.

'Okay. Let's do this. Linda, you are brilliant! Once I realise how horrible human love really is, I'll automatically fall back into my old ways! I'll stop being soft and this fucking weird hole in my chest will close!' Linda's mouth falls open but Mazikeen doesn't seem to notice. She cups both of her cheeks into her hands and kisses her friend's forehead. 'Thanks, again!'

Mazikeen had just left when a crying Charlie woke Linda from her state of disbelief.